The wreckage of a U.S. Navy fighter jet that went down during a routine training flight in Washington state was found on Wednesday, though the fate of its two crew members remains unclear. The crash occurred in the rugged, mountainous region east of Mount Rainier, an area known for its challenging terrain and harsh weather conditions.
The aircraft, an EA-18G Growler, crashed at approximately 3:23 p.m. on Tuesday, according to a statement from Whidbey Island Naval Air Station, home to the majority of the Navy’s Growler squadrons. Search and rescue efforts were launched shortly after the incident, with a U.S. Navy MH-60S helicopter scouring the area in an attempt to locate the missing crew members and assess the crash site. By around 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, aerial search teams managed to identify the wreckage, though the status of the two-person crew remains unknown.
Mike Welding, spokesperson for the air station, confirmed the discovery, noting that search teams would continue their efforts in the remote, snow-covered Cascades, where conditions are expected to worsen with incoming snow over the weekend. Access to the crash site is limited, as vehicles cannot reach the area.
At this time, it is unclear whether the crew was able to eject from the aircraft before the crash. The Navy has stated that the cause of the crash is under investigation.
The EA-18G Growler, which shares many characteristics with the F/A-18F Super Hornet, is a key element of the Navy’s electronic warfare capabilities. The aircraft is equipped with cutting-edge technology designed to neutralize enemy radar and communication systems. Most Growler squadrons are stationed at Whidbey Island, though some are also deployed at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni in Japan. The specific squadron involved in this crash, known as the “Zappers,” had recently been deployed aboard the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower.
The search efforts have been hampered by poor weather conditions in the area surrounding Mount Rainier, a towering active volcano known for its year-round snowfields and glaciers. The Navy noted that the first production model of the Growler was delivered to Whidbey Island in 2008, and the aircraft has since been involved in operations worldwide. Each Growler costs approximately $67 million and seats two personnel: a pilot and an electronics warfare officer seated behind them.
This crash is one of several recent incidents involving military aircraft. In May, an F-35 fighter jet crashed in New Mexico, leaving the pilot seriously injured. Additionally, eight members of the U.S. Air Force’s Special Operations Command were killed last year when a CV-22B Osprey went down off the coast of Japan.
